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Saudi Aid to Gaza Arrives at Rafah Crossing

One of the Saudi relief planes as part of the relief air bridge to Gaza (Saudi Embassy in Cairo)
One of the Saudi relief planes as part of the relief air bridge to Gaza (Saudi Embassy in Cairo)
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Saudi Aid to Gaza Arrives at Rafah Crossing

One of the Saudi relief planes as part of the relief air bridge to Gaza (Saudi Embassy in Cairo)
One of the Saudi relief planes as part of the relief air bridge to Gaza (Saudi Embassy in Cairo)

Saudi relief aid to the Palestinian people continued to flow to the Rafah land crossing between the Gaza Strip and Sinai in Egypt, carrying hundreds of tons of medical assistance, food, and shelter materials.

The aid is part of the campaign directed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to provide relief to the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia is also preparing to launch a relief sea bridge in the next few days.

Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Osama Nugali confirmed to the press at the Rafah land crossing that an airlift was implementing the directives of the King and the Crown Prince.

Nugali followed up on the progress of delivering Saudi aid arriving via the air bridge to al-Arish International Airport in Egypt and shipping it to the crossing ahead of transportation into the Strip.

The relief sea bridge will increase the volume of aid flows into Gaza in larger quantities and speed up the mobilization of resources.

The Ambassador explained that the sea bridge would contribute to increasing the volume of humanitarian aid to meet the needs of the people in Gaza, offering thanks to the Egyptian leadership, government, and people for their efforts in facilitating the process.

Total donations collected during the Saudi campaign to aid the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has exceeded $133 million, with over 800,000 donors through the Sahem platform of the King Salman Relief Center (KSRelief).

Also, KSRelief has supported the first phase of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East emergency humanitarian response plan for Gaza with $15 million as part of Riyadh’s keenness to stand with the Palestinian people during the current crisis.

The aid embodied the historic and firm commitment of the Saudi leadership towards the Palestinian people and their cause, reflecting its deep concern for the humanitarian situation and alleviating the suffering of civilians in the enclave.

Political analyst Abdullah al-Assaf believes that the popular campaign is a continuation of the Kingdom’s role of supporting the Palestinians, alleviating the suffering of civilians, and doing everything possible to mitigate the tragic repercussions suffered by the residents of the Strip.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Assaf stated that the Kingdom is considered the most prominent supporter of the Palestinian cause in history at the Arab and international levels, with aid exceeding $5.2 billion during the past few years.

He also noted that Palestine is the third country in development projects implemented by the KSRelief, with 112 projects costing $369 million.

Sheikh Nour al-Din Tawil confirmed that the popular campaign came at a crucial time, noting that the Kingdom seeks, as part of its tireless efforts, to spare the Palestinian people the scourge of conflict and alleviate the burden of suffering caused by the war machine.

Tawil, who is an Imam at the Islamic Cultural Center in Drancy, France, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia has “always devoted most of its capabilities" to supporting the Palestinian cause in various political, economic, and social fields.

He also noted that the Kingdom has always backed the Palestinian people through various crises and tribulations, standing up for their rights in the United Nations and humanitarian organizations.

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Gulf

Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on Saturday it “was time for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen to listen to reason and prioritize public interest and unity of ranks and respond to the Saudi-Emirati mediation to end the escalation.”

In a post on the X platform, he called on the STC to withdraw its forces from the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces and restore control to the National Shield and local authorities.

Prince Khalid said Saudi Arabia formed the Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen to help the country reclaim control over all of its territories.

The liberation of southern provinces was a pivotal development towards that goal, he stressed.

Saudi Arabia “views the southern issue as fundamental” to Yemen and it will not “exploit it in conflicts that do not serve” the nation, he added.

The Kingdom had brought together all Yemeni components to the Riyadh conference to come up with a clear path for a comprehensive political solution, including the southern issue, he went on to say.

The conference paved the way for a “just solution to their cause through dialogue and without the use of forces.”

“Saudi Arabia approved the decision to move the base of power so that the southerners could have a greater role in state institutions. It consolidated partnership instead of elimination or imposing a status quo through forces. Saudi Arabia also presented Yemen with economic support, as well as development and humanitarian initiatives that helped ease the suffering of the people,” Prince Khalid added.

“Saudi Arabia and its partners in the coalition offered sacrifices with their Yemeni brothers in liberating Aden and other provinces,” he noted. “The Kingdom has always sought that these sacrifices be made in the name of reclaiming territories and restoring the state, not as a path towards new conflicts.”

It had hoped that these sacrifices would have been “invested in the security of all Yemeni people, not exploited for petty gains, whereby the unfortunate developments in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra since the beginning of December 2025 have led to the division in ranks that should be united against the enemy.”

“The developments have laid waste to the sacrifices of our sons and Yemeni people and have harmed the just southern issue,” stressed Prince Khalid.

He noted that several southern leaderships and figures have exhibited “awareness and wisdom in supporting efforts to end the escalation in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra and prevent the secure southern provinces from being dragged into futile conflicts.”

“They are aware of the major challenges facing Yemen and will not allow saboteurs to achieve their goals in the country and the region,” he remarked.

He declared that the “southern issue will remain part of any comprehensive political solution. The cause will not be neglected or marginalized. It should be resolved through consensus, adhering to commitments and building trust between all Yemeni segments, not through adventures that only serve everyone's enemy.”

Gulf

Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
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Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)

Spokesman of the Arab coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki al-Malki said on Saturday that “any military moves that violate de-escalation efforts will be dealt with directly to protect lives and ensure the success of Saudi and Emirati efforts.”

The statement is in response to a request by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, who called for immediate steps to protect civilians in the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces in wake of the “grave and horrific” violations by members of the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

It is also in continuation of the strenuous joint efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to de-escalate the situation and ensure the withdrawal of STC forces, who have been demanded to cede control to the National Shield forces and allow the local authorities to carry out their duties.

Malki underlined the Arab coalition’s continued firm support for the legitimate Yemeni government.

He also urged all sides to assume their national responsibility, exercise restraint and comply with efforts to reach peaceful solutions that preserve security and stability.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia called for calm in eastern Yemen, urging an end to unilateral military moves and for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces to return to their former positions outside of the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces.

Riyadh, meanwhile, demonstrated its stance on the ground by carrying out a warning air strike, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The strike sought to deliver a message that it will not allow a new status quo to be imposed on the ground by force and that it will not allow the violation of institutional frameworks that handle security in the eastern provinces.

It warned that any further escalation will be met with firmer measures.

Meanwhile, the STC, in an attempt to justify its military moves, said they were in “response to calls from residents of the south” and an attempt to confront terrorist threats and block Houthi smuggling routes.

The STC added that it was “open to any coordination or arrangements with Saudi Arabia”, questioning the airstrike, which it said “does not serve understandings.”

Observers told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia will welcome the coordination and arrangements if they helped end the escalation, led to the withdrawal of the STC and allowed the National Shield forces and the local authority to take over Hadhramaut and al-Mahra without needing to resort to force.

They stressed that the strike will lead to delivering the clear message that Riyadh may impose red lines by force to prevent any escalation.

Sourced told Asharq Al-Awsat that any future settlement over restoring the unity of Yemeni ranks will condition a return to the former status quo.